September 21, 2023

PSG 2×0 Borussia Dortmund: 1st Round of Champions League

Index

PSG comfortably defeats Borussia Dortmund and leads the ‘group of death’ in the 2023/24 Champions League. Milan and Newcastle played to a goalless draw in the other group match.

PSG derrota o Dortmund e lidera 'grupo da morte' na Champions

Photo: Johannes Simon/Getty Images

PSG 2×0 Borussia Dortmund

PSG took to the field with: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, and Lucas Hernández (Danilo Pereira); Ugarte, Zaïre-Emery, and Vitinha (Lee Kang-In); Dembélé, Kolo Muani (Gonçalo Ramos), and Mbappé.

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund started the match with: Kobel; Sule, Hummels, and Schlotterbeck; Ryerson, Emre Can (Bynoe-Gittens), Sabitzer (Nmecha), Brandt (Marco Reus), and Wolf (Bensebaini); Malen (Füllkrug) and Adeyemi.

Playing at home in the Parc des Princes, PSG dominated Borussia Dortmund, maintaining over 70% of possession throughout the match, but only converting their control into goals in the second half.

In the 18th minute, PSG had their first significant opportunity. After an intricate passing sequence on the right-hand side, Vitinha received the ball inside the box and unleashed a rocket that hit the crossbar.

In the 38th minute, Dembélé took a short corner kick to Mbappé, who found Hakimi inside the box. The full-back passed it to Dembélé, who struck it into the corner of the net, but Kobel deflected it for a corner.

In the first minute of the second half, Dembélé combined with Hakimi, went down the flank, and crossed the ball. Mbappé attempted a shot, but the ball struck Süle’s arm, and the referee awarded a penalty. In the spot-kick, the unstoppable Mbappé placed it low into the corner, scoring his eighth goal for the club in the 2023/24 season.

PSG

Photo: EFE/EPA/YOAN VALAT

In his Champions League history, Mbappé has an incredible 41 goals in 62 games, with an average of 0.66 goals per game.

PSG extended their lead in the 12th minute. Vitinha advanced, dribbled past the defender, and cleverly back-heeled the ball to Hakimi. The full-back returned the pass, entered the box, and received it back. With great skill, he made a cut that left Hummels on the ground and struck the ball with the outside of his foot, bulging the net.

After conceding the goal, Borussia attempted to mount a comeback with some changes, including the introduction of attackers Marco Reus and Füllkrug. However, the home team held on to the victory without significant problems, still creating opportunities on the counter-attack.

In the 23rd minute, the Germans came close to their first goal. Byrne-Gittens combined with Reus, took a placed shot from outside the box, and the ball hit the post.

In one of the chances created on the counter-attack, PSG won the ball in midfield and quickly launched Dembélé. The Frenchman passed to Gonçalo Ramos near the penalty spot, but the Portuguese player missed the target.

In the 36th minute, Adeyemi took a corner, and Füllkrug headed dangerously close to the post. One of the few dangerous opportunities for Borussia.

Borussia Dortmund left a lot of space for the home team. In the 45th minute, Danilo Pereira delivered a beautiful through ball to Mbappé, who, seeing Kobel off his line, attempted a chip, but the ball went wide.

In the 48th minute, Gonçalo Ramos sent a through ball to Mbappé from the midfield. The superstar evaded Süle’s marking but shot wide.

In injury time, in the last minute of the game, Gonçalo Ramos managed to score. The forward received a pass behind the defense, finished with finesse as he went past the goalkeeper, but the linesman spotted a millimetric offside, and the goal was disallowed.

PSG’s next game will be on October 4th, away against Newcastle, while Borussia Dortmund hosts Milan at the Signal Iduna Park on the same day.

PSG